LOS ANGELES, United States, Apr 8 – Will Barton scored 31 points as the Denver Nuggets kept their playoffs hopes alive with a 134-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Nikola Jokic finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Nuggets won their fifth straight to move into a tie with the Minnesota Timberwolves for eighth place in the Western Conference with two games to play. Both teams are 45-35.

“At this time of the year, it’s all about finding a way to get wins,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said.

“We’re playing ‘Get-It-Done’ basketball. We’re getting it done. Going into tonight, we’d been playing good defence. We controlled the game, won all four quarters, another big step in the right direction.”

With the offence leading the way some nights and the defence on others, the Nuggets have regained control of their playoff destiny.

They will reach the post-season if they win their last two NBA games. The Nuggets finish the regular season at home against Portland on Monday night.

On Saturday, Denver started quickly on the attack, making 10 of their first 12 shots.

“I think overall — offensively, defensively, controlling our turnovers — I think we’re playing overall our best basketball,” Paul Millsap said. “Not our best offence we’ve played all year, not necessarily our best defence, but to be a good team you have to have balance.”

The stage is now set for the Nuggets’ season-ending game against the Timberwolves in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Minnesota, which holds the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, hosts Memphis on Monday.

“Our guys have really taken that to heart,” Malone said. “There’s a belief in that locker room, a lot of positivity. I think we’re all in, 100 per cent, believing in each other.”

The loss eliminated the struggling Clippers from the postseason race as they lost for the fourth time in the past five games.

The loss ends a string of six straight post-season appearances for the Clippers.

“I don’t think I have been more proud of a group, maybe ever, than I have been of this group,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers.

– Win streak snapped –

Elsewhere, Russell Westbrook and Paul George combined for 48 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Houston Rockets 108-102.

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